Recent Kinder Morgan spill in BC 48 times larger than originally thought
After the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline was shut down north of Kamloops for a short period of time due to an “operational disruption” late last month, it now appears that disruption was larger than the figures stated at the time.
Initial reports indicated at least 100 litres of light crude oil had leaked from a flow meter at the company’s Darfield Pump Station, during the May 27 incident.
According to a statement from the company, the station was “quickly isolated” and as a precaution, the main Trans Mountain Pipeline was shut down.
Later that same day, Kinder Morgan issued a statement indicating clean-up was underway, they were investigating and there was no specific estimate of volume spilled available.
The company said no waterways were affected, as a result of the incident, and that a more “specific” volume would be made available pending further investigation. The company’s emergency response was activated and spill clean-up was initiated.
Then, on May 31st, Ministry environmental emergency response officers visited the site.
The next day, a specific estimate was provided when Kinder Morgan revised the spill volume from at least 100 litres to 4,800 litres
In a statement to Daily Hive this week, BC’s Environment Minister George Heyman said the time it took to receive “accurate” information from Trans Mountain was “unacceptable.”
And it’s why, he added, “we will be assessing whether the company complied with our new spill reporting requirements passed in Fall 2017.”
Heyman said that while it is “is fortunate this spill was contained, it is another reminder that our province needs adequate tools and resources to protect our lands, waters and coast.”
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